017 Genesis 42 - 44; John 11.1 - 11.37
The criminals meet up with their victim but are unaware that it is Joseph. Joseph knows who they are and, there in, is the premise for this unfolding drama. We get to witness how Joseph, the second most powerful man in Egypt, handles a difficult situation. We also are privy to the conversations among the brothers who are so guilt ridden. An example of that is they say, "Now we're paying for what we did to our brother--we saw how terrified he was when he was begging for mercy." Guilt is relentless and people go to great extremes to relieve themselves of that feeling. The good news for us is that Christ has gone to great length's to set us free of our guilt and shame-- the cross!
Oh, by the way, in case you missed it, “Jesus wept”. He knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, but he wept. As Jesus said, “Weep with those who weep”--he felt their sorrow. He feels your guilt and shame, he feels your hurt and disappointments, and Christ weeps for you.
Today, cast your care on Him for He cares for YOU.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
016 Friday, January 16, 2009
016 Genesis 40 - 41; John 10
When I have to wrestle my ego to the mat there is a question I ask myself, "would I be willing to serve Christ in obscurity?" Joseph had gone from favorite son, to slave, and now to prison. He gave the interpretation of a cupbearer's dream and in turn the cupbearer said he would remember him to Pharaoh. "But the cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him." are the words we find recorded in scripture. Joseph has done nothing wrong and yet he is serving God in a very obscure place.
Finally, Joseph gets his break. Pharaoh hears about this one who can interpret dreams. The king has a dream and needs Joseph to use his ability--the dream is interpreted correctly. Now we find these words, "Pharoah told Joseph, '"I am Pharoah, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval.''' What a difference a day makes! I know it was longer, but things turned around for Joseph very quickly.
Who are you? I am Joseph, servant of God.
Who are you? How you answer this question is not dependent upon your status in life--you may be in jail or you may be the second most powerful person in your country. Who are you? _____________________________
This question of who you are has another twist to it once you read John 10. You are also His sheep and His sheep know His voice. These sheep He came to give life to the max. These sheep are being shepherded by the Good Shepherd, not a hired gun. John 10 is a great chapter to really study. It is one of the main chapters in proving the trinity. I would suggest that you print it out or copy it from your Bible so you have it with you to look over the rest of this month.
Who are you? Listen to His voice and God will tell you.
When I have to wrestle my ego to the mat there is a question I ask myself, "would I be willing to serve Christ in obscurity?" Joseph had gone from favorite son, to slave, and now to prison. He gave the interpretation of a cupbearer's dream and in turn the cupbearer said he would remember him to Pharaoh. "But the cupbearer never gave Joseph another thought; he forgot all about him." are the words we find recorded in scripture. Joseph has done nothing wrong and yet he is serving God in a very obscure place.
Finally, Joseph gets his break. Pharaoh hears about this one who can interpret dreams. The king has a dream and needs Joseph to use his ability--the dream is interpreted correctly. Now we find these words, "Pharoah told Joseph, '"I am Pharoah, but no one in Egypt will make a single move without your stamp of approval.''' What a difference a day makes! I know it was longer, but things turned around for Joseph very quickly.
Who are you? I am Joseph, servant of God.
Who are you? How you answer this question is not dependent upon your status in life--you may be in jail or you may be the second most powerful person in your country. Who are you? _____________________________
This question of who you are has another twist to it once you read John 10. You are also His sheep and His sheep know His voice. These sheep He came to give life to the max. These sheep are being shepherded by the Good Shepherd, not a hired gun. John 10 is a great chapter to really study. It is one of the main chapters in proving the trinity. I would suggest that you print it out or copy it from your Bible so you have it with you to look over the rest of this month.
Who are you? Listen to His voice and God will tell you.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
015, Thursday, January 15, 2009
015 Genesis 37 - 39; John 9
Joseph’s brothers had the “but Dad always loved you more” syndrome. In this case they had it right. Did their Dad loving their brother more require them to sell Joseph into slavery? No! Yet we will find out later that all of this was in God’s plans. We quickly pick up the story of Joseph again as he has now been sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar, an official in Pharaoh’s court. This official recognized that God was with Joseph. Do people recognize that God is with you? Do you recognize that God is with you?
It was too good to be true. Everything was going so well but Potiphar’s wife wanted to play “Yahtzee” with Joseph (i.e. have sex with him). Joseph fled from her and yet she lied and said he tried to have sex with her. Joseph was an innocent man that is now in jail. Joseph was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day. We find these words again, “God was with him.” Circumstances would say “no God is not with him” but the Word of God says, “God was with him.”
Looking at the reading in John we find this amazing story of a blind man being healed on the Sabbath. There was no rejoicing in the religious ranks. There were only investigations, accusations, and consternations going on in their ranks. It would seem someone could have been happy for him. But no! They were more interested in the rules instead of God’s power to heal. The formerly blind man tells them in the final question and answer time; “All I know is once I was blind and now I see.” Jesus had healed this blind man and that was too much for the religious crowd to take.
People will doubt us when we may say that once I was blind but now I see. Once I thought I could work my way into heaven but now I know that it is by God’s grace in Christ that I get to heaven. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
Joseph’s brothers had the “but Dad always loved you more” syndrome. In this case they had it right. Did their Dad loving their brother more require them to sell Joseph into slavery? No! Yet we will find out later that all of this was in God’s plans. We quickly pick up the story of Joseph again as he has now been sold to an Egyptian named Potiphar, an official in Pharaoh’s court. This official recognized that God was with Joseph. Do people recognize that God is with you? Do you recognize that God is with you?
It was too good to be true. Everything was going so well but Potiphar’s wife wanted to play “Yahtzee” with Joseph (i.e. have sex with him). Joseph fled from her and yet she lied and said he tried to have sex with her. Joseph was an innocent man that is now in jail. Joseph was having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day. We find these words again, “God was with him.” Circumstances would say “no God is not with him” but the Word of God says, “God was with him.”
Looking at the reading in John we find this amazing story of a blind man being healed on the Sabbath. There was no rejoicing in the religious ranks. There were only investigations, accusations, and consternations going on in their ranks. It would seem someone could have been happy for him. But no! They were more interested in the rules instead of God’s power to heal. The formerly blind man tells them in the final question and answer time; “All I know is once I was blind and now I see.” Jesus had healed this blind man and that was too much for the religious crowd to take.
People will doubt us when we may say that once I was blind but now I see. Once I thought I could work my way into heaven but now I know that it is by God’s grace in Christ that I get to heaven. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
013 Tuesday, January 13, 2009
013 Genesis 33 – 36; John 8.31 – 8.58
Wow! More outrageous behavior by our fledgling nation. A gentile named Shechem raped Jacob's daughter Dinah. Jacob gives her hand in marriage to Shechem if he and all his people(men) will be circumcised. Can you imagine two of Dinah's brothers go in while these men are still sore (no Morphine drip) and kill all of the men and take the rest captive. Jacob is livid to say the least. They were trouble but notice these words "God spoke to Jacob" that is the saving grace. God told them what to do and they followed God's instructions which had to do with getting rid of the alien gods. The two brothers who did this atrocity were Simeon and Levi. Levi will become the father of the Levitical priesthood--imagine that.
Jacob had twelve sons by four different women and they become the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob is no longer to be known as Jacob (heel) but Israel (wrestler). The seed of the promise is beginning to grow.
In spite of our sin, God is going to get the job done. The fulfillment of His promises is ultimately left up to Him. It works out much better for us if we would really cooperate. But we can always count on God coming through. Are you resting in His power and allowing Him to use you as He sees fit?
In John, we read about the Son of God setting us free. The freedom we are to enjoy has to do with the freedom to really follow him as we were built to do. We have freedom to be free in Him! Be free today so you can rest in His power and be free to enjoy His promises.
Wow! More outrageous behavior by our fledgling nation. A gentile named Shechem raped Jacob's daughter Dinah. Jacob gives her hand in marriage to Shechem if he and all his people(men) will be circumcised. Can you imagine two of Dinah's brothers go in while these men are still sore (no Morphine drip) and kill all of the men and take the rest captive. Jacob is livid to say the least. They were trouble but notice these words "God spoke to Jacob" that is the saving grace. God told them what to do and they followed God's instructions which had to do with getting rid of the alien gods. The two brothers who did this atrocity were Simeon and Levi. Levi will become the father of the Levitical priesthood--imagine that.
Jacob had twelve sons by four different women and they become the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob is no longer to be known as Jacob (heel) but Israel (wrestler). The seed of the promise is beginning to grow.
In spite of our sin, God is going to get the job done. The fulfillment of His promises is ultimately left up to Him. It works out much better for us if we would really cooperate. But we can always count on God coming through. Are you resting in His power and allowing Him to use you as He sees fit?
In John, we read about the Son of God setting us free. The freedom we are to enjoy has to do with the freedom to really follow him as we were built to do. We have freedom to be free in Him! Be free today so you can rest in His power and be free to enjoy His promises.
Monday, January 12, 2009
012 Monday, January 12, 2009
012 Genesis 30 – 32; John 8.1 – 8.30
Heartache; we have all experienced it. Rachael, Leah, and Jacob were having some tough times. Jacob has two wives who are sisters. Leah knows she is not loved but does have children and Rachael is loved but does not have children. You know, it almost sounds like a Jerry Springer show.
Finally God heard Rachael's pleas and gave her a son, Joseph. Things were almost settled down but Laban, Jacobs father-in-law, started stirring things up. Finally, Jacob was told by the Lord to go back to be with his father. By this time he had become a wealthy man.
Guess who is coming to meet you? The brother you deceived and he is bringing 400 men…Party?--a hanging party or a welcome home party? Jacob sent everyone on ahead. He then met God and they had a wrestling match. Guess who won--Jacob? Yes--I will not let you go until you bless me; but with the blessing came a limp. Sometimes we want a limp free blessing, well, almost all the time.
Bless me Lord but help me remember who gave the blessing.
My own thoughts are that God wants us to walk humbly before Him and sometimes we forget who gave the blessing, hence the limp. Do you have a limp? If so thank God for it today.
Heartache; we have all experienced it. Rachael, Leah, and Jacob were having some tough times. Jacob has two wives who are sisters. Leah knows she is not loved but does have children and Rachael is loved but does not have children. You know, it almost sounds like a Jerry Springer show.
Finally God heard Rachael's pleas and gave her a son, Joseph. Things were almost settled down but Laban, Jacobs father-in-law, started stirring things up. Finally, Jacob was told by the Lord to go back to be with his father. By this time he had become a wealthy man.
Guess who is coming to meet you? The brother you deceived and he is bringing 400 men…Party?--a hanging party or a welcome home party? Jacob sent everyone on ahead. He then met God and they had a wrestling match. Guess who won--Jacob? Yes--I will not let you go until you bless me; but with the blessing came a limp. Sometimes we want a limp free blessing, well, almost all the time.
Bless me Lord but help me remember who gave the blessing.
My own thoughts are that God wants us to walk humbly before Him and sometimes we forget who gave the blessing, hence the limp. Do you have a limp? If so thank God for it today.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
011 Sunday, January 11, 2009
011 Genesis 27 – 29; John 7.25 – 7.53
How is your bible reading going? Hint, do not get behind, but if you do speed read the parts you are have not read and move on. Remember in the end it's not getting through the bible in a year but getting the word of God in us for a whole year that will transform us.
More details and maybe not the kind we would like to know. God had told Rebekah that Esau would serve Jacob. So, what does that look like? Rebekah plots with her son Jacob in order to get the blessing. They lie and use deceit to obtain the blessing from Isaac. Probably not the best avenue to take but hindsight is 20/20.
Do you read this portion of Scripture and start plotting on how to use deceit in order to take over your company, etc? NO! However, it is another time the curtains are pulled back and we realize God uses people who are less than perfect. God uses people and as long as He sticks to that plan, you can rest assured that those He used back then, now, and in the future are less than perfect.
Good news…God can use you!!!!!!!!
On that last day of the feast, Jesus took His stand; "He cried out, 'if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way...' " Can Jesus fill a cracked pot--a less than perfect pot? Yes, and specializes in that venue.
Think today on how God has already used you. Write it down. Ask God to fill you so rivers of living water can spring forth from your inner most being.
How is your bible reading going? Hint, do not get behind, but if you do speed read the parts you are have not read and move on. Remember in the end it's not getting through the bible in a year but getting the word of God in us for a whole year that will transform us.
More details and maybe not the kind we would like to know. God had told Rebekah that Esau would serve Jacob. So, what does that look like? Rebekah plots with her son Jacob in order to get the blessing. They lie and use deceit to obtain the blessing from Isaac. Probably not the best avenue to take but hindsight is 20/20.
Do you read this portion of Scripture and start plotting on how to use deceit in order to take over your company, etc? NO! However, it is another time the curtains are pulled back and we realize God uses people who are less than perfect. God uses people and as long as He sticks to that plan, you can rest assured that those He used back then, now, and in the future are less than perfect.
Good news…God can use you!!!!!!!!
On that last day of the feast, Jesus took His stand; "He cried out, 'if anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way...' " Can Jesus fill a cracked pot--a less than perfect pot? Yes, and specializes in that venue.
Think today on how God has already used you. Write it down. Ask God to fill you so rivers of living water can spring forth from your inner most being.
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